3 ms·

> As you probably guessed, this is not how I write SF — in fact, it's the antithesis of everything I enjoy in an SF novel So he's comparing a TV show, to novel

by cronix 5y ago

> As you probably guessed, this is not how I write SF — in fact, it's the antithesis of everything I enjoy in an SF novel So he's comparing a TV show, to novels. I wonder if he ever read the actual original Star Trek books? They are quite different than the made for TV show. Author might be a sci-fi writer, but has he actually made anything for TV, which is a completely different beast than a book?

IshKebab 5y ago
I don't think the format changes anything. It's perfectly possible to have sci-fi TV without the insane levels of "tech" that Star Trek has. The Expanse is probably the best example. But even something like Star Wars (the original trilogy) is way way better. Another good example is something like Limitless. Not a space opera but the point is that it works because they break one or a small number of rules and then explore that. They aren't constantly saying "aha, but actually he also has the power of teleportation" or whatever. In The Expanse, they have rockets that allow exploring the solar system. In Limitless there's a pill that makes you clever. In Star Wars (original) there's "the force" which lets you be a space ninja. But in Star Trek they can basically do anything. Travel back in time? No problem the... err... there's a convenient Borg Queen that can do it. Need to teleport to another ship light years away in warp? No problem, Scotty can just invent it in a few seconds. Don't use it ever again though! Same in the newer Star Wars. Leia's about to die? Aha no! She can use the force to fly! Rebel's about to die? Aha no! Hyperdrives can be weapons now too (just the once mind, and no autopilot).
- xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
  I didn't appreciate the campiness of Star Trek until I was much older. The tropes actually make it more enjoyable. It's not hard sci-fi, which Expanse puts a lot of energy in to deliver. The problem with Star Wars is that the fandom doesn't agree about it being campy, but at this point it's more campy than not, and similarly, I find it more enjoyable from that angle.

by cronix 5y ago

IshKebab 5y ago

I don't think the format changes anything. It's perfectly possible to have sci-fi TV without the insane levels of "tech" that Star Trek has. The Expanse is probably the best example. But even something like Star Wars (the original trilogy) is way way better. Another good example is something like Limitless. Not a space opera but the point is that it works because they break one or a small number of rules and then explore that. They aren't constantly saying "aha, but actually he also has the power of teleportation" or whatever. In The Expanse, they have rockets that allow exploring the solar system. In Limitless there's a pill that makes you clever. In Star Wars (original) there's "the force" which lets you be a space ninja. But in Star Trek they can basically do anything. Travel back in time? No problem the... err... there's a convenient Borg Queen that can do it. Need to teleport to another ship light years away in warp? No problem, Scotty can just invent it in a few seconds. Don't use it ever again though! Same in the newer Star Wars. Leia's about to die? Aha no! She can use the force to fly! Rebel's about to die? Aha no! Hyperdrives can be weapons now too (just the once mind, and no autopilot).

xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
I didn't appreciate the campiness of Star Trek until I was much older. The tropes actually make it more enjoyable. It's not hard sci-fi, which Expanse puts a lot of energy in to deliver. The problem with Star Wars is that the fandom doesn't agree about it being campy, but at this point it's more campy than not, and similarly, I find it more enjoyable from that angle.